Cell partitions for cartons



within a commercial standard class.

3,038,625 CELL PARTHTIONS FOR CARTONS Edwin A. Sinner and Dan A. Hull, Medford, reg., as-

signors to Kay Paper Products, Inc., Medford, Oreg, a corporation of Oregon Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 24,517 7 Claims. (Cl. 217--33) This invention relates to cell partitions for cartons and boxes.

Cell partitions for boxes find wide application in the packaging of fragile objects, especially those of nonrectangular configuration. Egg cartons are probably the most widely used of these devices but there is demand for packages accommodating many other types of merchandise.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for packages of this type for shipping premium quality fruit. A common problem encountered in handling fruit as well as other natural products is the lack of uniformity Fruit is ordinarily graded to the nearest quarter or half inch of diameter. Although fruit is ordinarily substantially symmetrical about a central axis, substantial variation is to be expected.

Cell construction, if it makes too little allowance for variation, results in such a firm pack that inadequate allowance is made for the fragility of the object, thus defeating the purpose of the package. If generous allowance is made for nonuniformity of the object being packed there is not only wasted space but also, almost inevitably, an excessive amount of packaging material employed, thus adding to the expense of the package, both in the initial cost of the material from which the package is made and in the expense of fabricating this to particular shape.

We have devised a cell construction wherein the transverse dividing members of a cell structure are relatively movable with respect to the longitudinal members, in limited degree, sumcient to accommodate the usual size variations in any given lot of articles to be packaged. Further, the partition elements are so constructed as to accommodate small variations in size of the articles being packaged.

Our packaging elements are easily produced from standard materials with very little special work. They are easily assembled at the point of use without resort to elaborate machinery.

Our inveniton may more effectively be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an assembled set of partitions within an open-topped carton, phantom details being employed in part for better exposition of the construction;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, a cover being shown upon the carton;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of one of the partition members used; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a second type of partition member used.

Referring to the drawings, an open-topped, rectangular carton is disclosed, made of any suitable material. Ordinarily, corrugated board will be employed. Depending upon considerations not herein germane, the carton may be foldable or not. In FIGURE 2, a snug fitting, telescopic cover 12 is shown.

Within the container 10, a cell structure is shown made up of longitudinal members 14 and transverse members 16. The longitudinal members 14 are of a length to fit snugly against the end walls 18 of the container 10 and 3,038,625 Patented June 12, 1 962 the transverse members 16 are of such a length as to snugly fit the side walls 20. In the construction shown, two longitudinal members and three transverse members are employed to provide twelve separate cells. The total number of partitions may vary according to the size of package desired; ordinarily, at least two of each type of partition will be employed.

The longitudinal member 14 is formed of a rectangular piece of sheet material, preferably corrugated board with the ribs running at right angles to its folded length. It is creased and folded along the lines 22, 24 and 26 to form an element having the shape of a double V, a smaller within a larger, the two being joined together along the edge 24- and having a pair of common free edges at 28. The height of the partition member 14 is substantial, ranging from half to somewhat more than three-quarters of the height of the walls 18 and 20.

The partition 16 is formed of a rectangular sheet, preferably of corrugated board with the corrugations running at right angles to the folded length thereof. It is creased along the single line 30 and folded to V shape. The height of the transverse partition 16 is substantially that of walls 18 and 20. A number of V shaped notches 32 is cut in the transverse partion 16, corresponding to the number of longitudinal members 14 to be used. The notches extend from the free edges, inwardly toward the fold line 31), leaving a relatively narrow neck 34 between the apex of the notch and the fold line 30. The width of the notch 32 should have the effect of moderately compressing the arms of the longitudinal divider, without fully compressing the edges 28 against the line 24.

When the respective partition members 14 and 16 are assembled within the box 10, the longitudinal members are first put into place, followed by the transverse members. This manner of assembly is more advantageous than assembling all the partition members first and placing the assembly in the box 10. In this arrangement, the lower margins of all of the partition members are in substantial contact with the floor of the tray-like container 10 and the folded edges 39 will be substantially as high as the corresponding edges of the walls 18 and 20. The partitions 16 are movable endwise along the longitudinal partitions to accommodate articles differing somewhat as to size. The weakened portions 34 have sufficient integrity to withstand the rigors of shipment but are weak enough to permit some variation in the size of two adjacent cells. Further, the open portions of the V folds of the partitions, both longitudinal and transverse, are compressible, affording resilient cushioning to the articles held within the cell. The addition of a snug fitting lid 12 to the container 10, contacting the folded edges 30 as well as the rim of the box, stabilizes the entire assembly against further movement. However, it is obvious that two or more layers may be packed in a single box of appropriate depth, by the substitution of stiff liner sheets between upper and lower adjacent layers.

While the invention has been described by reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. We therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spirt and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. Partition members for a closable rectangular box consisting of a plurality of first, longitudinal members and a plurality of second, lateral members; each first memher being formed of a rectangular blank of corrugated board, creased and folded at right angles to the corrugations thereof, the length, along a fold line of said first member, snugly fitting a first inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to the shape of a pair of isosceles prisms, each having one open side, said side being common to both prisms, the smaller of said prisms being housed within the other of said prisms, the folded height of said first member being at least half but appreciably less than the full height of the box; each said second member being formed of a rectangular blank of corrugated board, creased and folded at right angles to the corrugations thereof, the length, along the fold line of said second member, snugly fitting the second inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to a crosssection of substantially V-shape, the folded height of said second member being substantially the full inner height of the box, each said second member being provided with a plurality of pairs of V-shaped notches, the number of pairs being equal to the number of first members, said notches being indented in the edges of said second members, parallel to the fold line and arranged in facing pairs with the apices of the notches facing each other, the depth of each notch being substantially equal to the folded height of said first member.

2. Partition members for a closable rectangular box consisting of a plurality of first, longitudinal members and a plurality of second, lateral members; each frst member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along a fold line of said first member, snugly fitting a first inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to the shape of a pair of isosceles prisms, each having one open side, said side being common to both prisms, the smaller of said prisms being housed Within the other of said prisms, the folded height of said first member being at least half but appreciably less than the full height of the box; each said second member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along the fold line of said second member, snugly fitting the second inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to a crosssection of substantially V-shape, the folded height of said second member being substantially the full inner height of the box, each said second member being provided with a plurality of pairs of V-shaped notches, the number of pairs being equal to the number of first members, said notches being indented in the edges of said second members, parallel to the fold line and arranged in facing pairs with the apices of the notches facing each other, the depth of each notch being substantially equal to the folded height of said first member.

3. Partition members for a closable rectangular box consisting of a plurality of first, longitudinal members and a plurality of second, lateral members; each first member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along a fold line of said first member, snugly fitting a first inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to the shape of a pair of isosceles prisms, each having one open side, said side being common to both prisms, the smaller of said prisms being housed within the other of said prisms; the folded height of said first member being at least half but appreciably less than the full height of the box; each said second member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along the fold line of said second member, snugly fitting the second inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to a crosssection of substantially V-shape, each said second member being provided with a plurality of pairs of V-shaped notches, the number of pairs being equal to the number of first members, said notches being indented in the edges of said second members, parallel to the fold line and arranged in facing pairs with the apices of the notches facing each other, the depth of each notch being substantially equal to the folded height of said first member.

4. Partition members for a closable rectangular box consisting of a plurality of first, longitudinal members and a plurality of second, lateral members; each first member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along a fold line of said first member, snugly fitting a first inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to the shape of a pair of isosceles prisms, each having one open side, said side being common to both prisms, the smaller of said prisms being housed within the other of said prisms; the folded height of said first member being at least half but appreciably less than the full height of the box; each said second member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along the fold line of said second member, snugly fitting the second inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to a crosssection of substantially V-shape, each said second member being provided with a plurality of pairs of V-shaped notches, the number of pairs being equal to the number of first members, said notches being indented in the edges of said second members, parallel to the fold line and arranged in facing pairs with the apices of the notches facing each other.

5. Partition members for a closable rectangular box consisting of a plurality of first, longitudinal members and a plurality of second, lateral members; each first member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along a fold line of said first member, snugly fitting a first inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to the shape of a pair of isosceles prisms, each having one open side, said side being common to both prisms, the smaller of said prisms being housed Within the other of said prisms; the folded height of said first member being at least half but appreciably less than the full height of the box; each said second member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along the fold line of said second member, snugly fitting the second inside later dimension of the box, said blank being folded to a cross-section of substantially V-shape, each said second member being provided With a plurality of pairs of V- shaped notches, the number of pairs being equal to the number of first members, said notches being indented in the edges of said second members, parallel to the fold line and arranged in facing pairs with the apices of the notches facing each other, the combined folded height of said first member and the portion of said second member between the apex of a notch and the fold line, being at least equal to the full inner height of the box.

6. Partition members for a closable rectangular box consisting of a plurality of first, longitudinal members and a plurality of second, lateral members; each first member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along a fold line of said first member, snugly fitting a first inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to present an object having a double V-shaped cross-section, one V within the other and being joined together along one common outer edge, each said second member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along the fold line of said second member, snugly fitting the second inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to a crosssection of substantially V-shape, each said second member being provided with a pltu'ality of pairs of V-shaped notches, the number of pairs being equal to the number of first members, said notches being indented in the edges of said second members, parallel to the fold line and arranged in facing pairs with the apices of the notches facing each other.

7. Partition members for a closable rectangular box consisting of a plurality of first, longitudinal members and a plurality of second, lateral members; each first member being formed of a rectangular blank creased and folded, the length, along a fold line of said first member, snugly fitting a first inside lateral dimension of the box, said blank being folded to the shape of an isosceles prism, having one open side, each said second member being formed of a rectangular blank, creased and folded, the length, along the fold line of said second member, snugly fitting the second, inside lateral dimension of the box, notches facing each other, the depth of each notch being said blank being folded to a cross-section of substantially substantially equal to the folded height of said first V-shape, the folded height of said second member being member.

substantially the full inner height of the box, each said second member being provided with a plurality of pairs 5 References Cit d in the file of this patent of V-shaped notches, the number of pairs being equal to UNITED STATES PATENTS the number of first members, said notches being indented 1 11 in the edges of said second members, parallel to the fold 8702 Tlemim 1914 line and arranged in facing pairs with the apices of the 2741362 Cortnght 1956 

